Sash-eastenek



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY HOCHSTRASSER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SASH-FASTENER.

Specication of Letters Patent No. 10,045, dated September 27, 1853.

tion, reference being had to the annexed drawing of the same, which makes part of this specification, and in which- Figure l represents an elevation of fragments of a pair of window sashes, to illustrate the application of my improved fastener; F ig. 2 represents a section through thev fastener, and part of the sashes with which it is connected; F ig. 3 represents a similar section with the upper sash partially depressed, and in the act of setting the catch 4to be ready to lock the sash when it is again closed, and Fig. 4 represents a view in perspective of the fastener detached from the window sash.

My improved fastening is designed to secure the window more etiectually, and is stronger and more durable than those heretofore made. It consists of a face plate (a), perforated near each end with countersunk holes (Z7), through which screws or nails are inserted to fasten it to the sash. Slots (c and c), are also made in the plate (a), to allow the ends of the catch to be protruded and retracted as will be presently described. The slot at the lower end of the plate has a large countersink made near its middle, to admit the end of the linger, or thumb of a person opening the window, to press the catch black preparatory to lowering the upper or raising the lower sash, to the right hand stile of the former of which, it is intended to be fastened.

On the back of the face pla-te at the middle of its length as near as may be a pair oflugs (e), project, between which a bar (f), is supported on a pivot (i), upon which it is free to turn; each end of this bar has a projection (m), on it of such size and in such position, that either will, when the bar (f), is turned, protrude alternately through the slots (c and c), in the plate opposite to which they are placed. The outer edge of each of these projections is sloped toward the middle of the plate forming a regular inclined plane from the surface of the plate so that anything moving on the latter from the middle toward either end will by bearing against the inclined surface of the protruding catch move it back into the slot, and

that on the opposite end of the bar out of the slot, the catches and bar being so arranged that when one catch is out the other is always 1n.

A spring (a), is secured to the inside of the plate (a), to press the upper end of the catch bar (f), constantly inward, thus tending to keep the upper catch retracted.

A spring detent (o), is secured to one of the lugs (c), and presses constantly against the side of the upper end of the catch bar (f), which is fitted with a recess, or with a stump (1"), as represented, so that as the upper catch is protruding through the plate (a), the spring detent will yield and allow the stump to pass behind it where it will be held against the pressure of the spring (n), until force is applied to the catch to press the stump past the detent.

When the upper sash is raised to the full extent the lower catch will be protruded as seen in Fig. 2 over the upper and outer corner of the lower sash, holding the latter down and the former up. To protect the corner of the lower sash from abrasion by the catch, it is covered by an angle plate (s).

When a person desires to raise the lower sash, or lower the upperone, the thumb is applied to the lower catch (m), to press it in until the detent (o), is latched behind the stump The sash is then moved and in its progress the plate (s), on the corner of the lower sash is brought into contact with the inclined face of the upper catch which is gradually pressed back as the plate (s), passes over it until the stump-is freed from the detent, when the spring (n), which tends constantly to force out the lower catch (m), will be unobstructed in its action by th-e detent, so that on the closing of the sashes again the lower catch will spring over the edge of the plate (s), and lock the two securely together, in this way the catch becomes self-holding and self-setting, so that it will not be latched while the window is open and will not allow the window to be shut without being securely locked. As the catch bar acts as a prop, the strain being in the direction of its length it is capable of resisting without injury, efforts to open the window from without that would break those catches which are so constructed that the strain upon the bar is in a transverse direction.

It is obvious that my improved catch is susceptible of being variously modified so as to secure its advantages in different stua- In testimony whereof, I have here-unto tions Without a departure from the prinsubscribed my name.

cple upon which it is constructed. HENRY HOCHSTRASSER What I claim s my invention and desire 5 to Secure by Letters Patent, s- VVtnesses:

The self-acting Catch made and operating WILLIAMS OGLE, Substantlally as hereln descrlbed. JONATHAN MAGARGE. 

